The best shopping deals in May

Welcome to our May shopping guide, a useful tool for every consumer to wield while hunting for deals this month. And what a month it is. Not every holiday weekend features great deals, but Memorial Day is an exception. And as far as gift-giving months go, May has the big one: Mother's Day.

But there's a new wrinkle out there for you clever consumers. It's called the Marketplace Fairness Act. If it passes, it will require online retailers to collect state sales tax regardless of an operation's location. That means your days of shopping tax-free may be over.

“But the way we see it, the new law just means shoppers will have to be all the more savvy with their purchases,” according to Dealnews.com.

We agree, which is why you should bookmark this shopping guide in anticipation of a great month of sales. “As an almost-mid-year event, we’ve consistently found that Memorial Day promotions tend to boast some of the best sales since January. Keep an eye out in particular for a plethora of stacking coupons that will make already-discounted goods even cheaper; often these sales are the largest in recent months.”

Cell phone and service deals will continue to be hot in May due to the release of the new Samsung Galaxy S4 and T-Mobile’s new simple choice plan. T-Mobile recently transitioned to its “contract-free” system, although it may have to be careful about calling it contract-free in the future. “Regardless, there's no doubt that the carrier now offers more cost-effective service amongst the big four wireless providers — if you're willing to pay for a device in full (either up front or with an installment plan). In fact, if you switch to the iPhone 5 via T-Mobile, you could save at least $360 over a 2-year span compared to AT&T — and potentially as much as $1,000.”

Deals2Buy also cites specific deals such as a $50 rebate when you switch to T-Mobile.

Memorial Day Weekend is a good time to look for deals on refrigerators and other major appliances. New refrigerator models hit stores in the summer, so you can get a deal on last year’s models. Feel free to haggle. If there’s a clearance price it may be only the beginning if you’re willing to negotiate.

Check out this Summit Professional range (pictured left). Starting at $860 on Yahoo! Shopping, it has the classic design and durability of stainless steel in an apartment-friendly size.

And don't forget the little items, such as this sharp little 2-slice toaster for less than $8 at Best Buy.

In time for the summer season retailers typically start rolling out sales on handbags and totes in May.

Handbags are a year-round accessory for most women. Whether you want to bring it all with you in a big straw tote or just carry a few necessities in a pouch or wristlet, this is the time of year when new trends of all sizes roll out.

This is swimsuit shopping time for folks getting ready for beach season. And we’re not just talking about the ladies. Sales of men's swimwear rise this month as well, in part because newer trunk styles double as shorts.

Target is known for their low prices year-round, and you can get a decent set of trunks under $20 as well as a stylish swimsuit for under $25.

For other deep discounts on swimwear for women and men check out SwimOutlet.com. Their prices are good and shipping on orders over $49 is free. Be sure to check their “clearance” tab for new deals every day.

May brings deep discounts for spring clothing. Current-season apparel has now been on the shelves for about two months, and in order to make way for summer styles, retailers will begin offering discounts that could take 50% to 75% off.

They call flip-flops the perfect excuse for a pedicure. Now’s the time. Famousfootwear.com has sandals of every variety and price. We also like WetSeal.com for great prices on a huge variety of sandals and spring clothing. Look for their “5 for $20” deals and their “Buy 1 Get 1 50% Off” deal on shorts, swimwear and sandals.

Are you getting ready to hit the road for a summer vacation? So is everyone else. That’s why tire sales are big in May.

Goodyear.com and Pepboys.com are always reliable sources. But Walmart has become a major player in the tire business as well. Look for discounts on a selection of Goodyear tires with prices starting at $55.50 and free Site-to-Store pickup. Dealnews.com called it “the best deal we've ever seen on these tires from Walmart.”

Mother’s Day is Sunday, May 12. (Check our piece about gadget gifts for mom.) For more non-traditional gifts, consider a cruise. Right now you can get a Royal Caribbean 3-Night Bahamas Cruise for two from $378. That’s $107 less than any other going rate.

For more traditional gifts, know that restaurants will offer special menus and flower shops will be busy. On the other hand, virtually every retailer is trying to get a piece of the Mother’s Day gift action.

These items seem to time well with Spring. Everyone’s looking for a fresh start. What’s fresher than new linens in the most intimate places in your home? Not to mention a new mattress on which to throw those linens.

May is a great month to buy in both categories. Last year’s mattresses and box springs are still hanging around. Retailers are so eager to move them that they’re willing to haggle on price, delivery and warranties if you’re so inclined.

With Ultra HD gaining steam, 3D HDTVs are dropping in price. Not everyone is a 3D believer, but if you are this is a good time to buy.

“Last month, Ultra HDTVs (which pack a vertical resolution of 2160 pixels) debuted at prices far lower than anyone expected; Sony made a splash with the announcement of its $4,999 55" model, but barely-known Chinese manufacturer Seiki made waves with its 50" 4K TV for $1,500. That low price fell even further just days after its announcement to an unprecedented price of $1,200,” according to Dealnews.com. That's some $800 more than a traditional 50" 1080p LCD, but it's 47% cheaper than the first 3D HDTV posted back in 2010, which was the last major TV technology to debut.

“For the first time this year, brand-name 60" 1080p LCD HDTVs are cheaper than their off-brand counterparts. Traditionally, buying off-brand TVs meant a savings between $100 and $200 compared to a name-brand set. But we've been seeing a role reversal, and in April brand-name models were actually $50 cheaper. This month we expect to see more of the same as these TVs remain at or below $700.”

Right now you can buy a beautiful Bulova Women’s Diamond Watch from Ashford for $119.00 – $180 less than the retail price. That’s only one of the great jewelry deals available in May.

If you’re an eBay person, look for deals of up to 70% off on Mother’s Day jewelry this month. And don’t forget about your dads and male grads. You can save up to $395 off select styles from Diesel Time Frames.

Spot any awesome deals coming in May? Post them below in the comment section or share them on Twitter @yahooshopping.